Hybrid tea rose plant named ‘Meileyet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which forms attractive double blossoms that are pale pink bordered with pink depending on the season. Such blossoms possess no fragrance. The plant exhibits an erect growth habit, dark green and semi-glossy foliage, and very good disease resistance. The new variety is particularly well suited for producing cut flowers under greenhouse growing conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the ‘Tanselbon’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the crossof the ‘Erotika’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the‘Devolor’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The parentage ofthe new variety can be summarized as follows:

‘Tanselbon’×(‘Erotika’×‘Devolor’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) Is substantially free of thorns,

(b) Forms attractive double blossoms that are pale pink bordered withpink depending on the season,

(c) Exhibits an erect growth habit, and

(d) Is particularly well suited for the production of cut flowers undergreenhouse growing conditions.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andexhibits good productivity during cut flower production in a greenhouse.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown thatthe characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meileyet’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed during Aprilwhile budded on Rosa indica understock and growing in greenhouses at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicatedat the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface; and

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year-old plants during April while budded on Rosaindica understock and growing indoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var,France. The coloration in common terms precedes reference to the chartin some instances.

Class: Hybrid tea.

Plant:

Height.—When pruned to a height of 85 cm., floral stems of approximately60 to 80 cm. in length commonly are produced.

Habit.—Erect.

Branches:

Color.—Young stems: near Green Group 137D. Adult wood: near Green Group137C.

Thorns.—Size: medium when present. Quantity: very few, is substantiallyfree of thorns. Color: greenish. Configuration: fairly straight andfringed on the upper surface and slightly curved on the under surface.

Leaves:

Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, and narrow.

Petioles.—Upper surface: slightly glandular, and medium green incoloration. Under surface: commonly with a few prickles and light green(near Green Group 137A) in coloration suffused with anthocyanincoloration.

Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: with a symmetricaltip. Serration: regular (as illustrated). Texture: normal. Generalappearance: fairly dense, medium green, and semi-glossy. Color (youngfoliage): Upper surface: near Green Group 137A with some reddishstaining. Under surface: near Greyed-Green Group 191A with some reddishstaining. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group147A. Under surface: near Greyed-Green Group 191A.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.—Usually one flower per stem.

Peduncle.—Long, without prickles, light green (near Green Group 137D) incoloration, and the length is approximately 14 cm. on average.

Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose and light green (near Green Group 137D)in coloration. Under surface: light green (near Green Group 137D) incoloration and commonly with extensions of variable lengths (asillustrated).

Buds.—Shape: conical. Size: medium. Length: approximately 5 cm. onaverage. Color upon opening: Upper surface: near Yellow-White Group 158Dsuffused with Red Group 55D at the margin. Under surface: nearYellow-White Group 158C suffused with Red Group 55B to 55C.

Flower.—Shape: with a high center. Size: large. Diameter: commonlyapproximately 12 cm. on average. Color (when opening begins): Uppersurface: other than the outermost petals pale pink, Orange Group 27C to27D and lightly suffused with Red Group 56D at the margin depending onthe season. The outermost petals approach white, White Group 155B, incoloration. Under surface: near White Group 155A and suffused with RedGroup 55D at the margin. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: otherthan the outermost petals pale pink, Orange Group 27C to 27D andsuffused with light pink, Red Group 56D, at the margin depending uponthe season. The outermost petals approach white, White Group 155B, incoloration. Under surface: White Group 155A suffused with Red Group 55Dat the margin. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: other than theoutermost petals pale pink, Orange Group 27C to 27D. The outermostpetals approach white, White Group 155B, in coloration. Under surface:near White Group 155C with a slight presence of Red Group 55D at themargin. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality: approximately 10 to 12 days onthe plant and approximately 10 to 12 days when cut and placed in a vase.Petal shape: cuneiform base and reflexed tip. Petal number:approximately 55 on average. Petal drop: very good, the petals commonlydetach cleanly. Stamen number: approximately 45 on average. Anthers:yellow in coloration. Filaments: yellow in coloration. Pistils:approximately 140 on average. Stigmas: pale yellow in coloration.Styles: pinkish in coloration. Receptacle: light green in coloration,and in longitudinal section in the shape of a funnel. Hips: ovoid inshape.

Development:

Vegetation.—Very strong.

Blooming.—Early and abundant, approximately 140 to 180 blossoms areformed per square meter per year under greenhouse growing conditions.

Aptitude to bear fruit.—Medium.

Resistance to diseases.—Very good with respect to Powdery Mildew.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) Issubstantially free of thorns, (b) Forms attractive double blossoms thatare pale pink bordered with pink depending on the season, (c) Exhibitsan erect growth habit, and (d) Is particularly well suited for theproduction of cut flowers under greenhouse growing conditions;substantially as herein shown and described.